escamoteur

Forms

escamoteur m (plural escamoteurs, feminine escamoteuse)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from French escamoter + -eur.^[2][1][3] The verb is probably from Occitan escamotar, derived from escamar (“to unravel”), which goes back to Latin squama (“scale”).^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first appears in 1616 in the figurative phrase escamoteurs de conciences, “jugglers of consciences”, in a satirical pamphlet.^[2][5] The GLLF and the Petit Robert date the phrase from 1609.^[6][7]

Semantic evolution

From the figurative use the word passed to a concrete one: in 1690 Furetière records it for a thief who steals things deftly.^[2][5][6] It also named the conjurer who makes objects vanish by sleight of hand, the sense Nerval uses before 1854;^[6][2] both senses are now dated.^[2][6] In the 20th century it is used figuratively of someone skilled at dodging difficulties,^[6] and the feminine escamoteuse is also found as an adjective, in Romains.^[6][8]

Timeline

• 1616 – Escamoteurs de conciences in a satirical pamphlet.^[2][3][5]
• 1690 – Furetière records the sense “deft thief”.^[2][6][5]
• Before 1854 – Nerval uses it of a conjurer.^[6]
• 20th century – The figurative sense “one who evades difficulties” appears.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. (dated) A conjurer who performs sleight-of-hand tricks, an illusionniste.^[2][7][6]
2. (dated, figurative) A thief who steals things deftly, a pickpocket.^[7][6][9]
3. (figurative) A person skilled at evading difficulties or questions.^[6]

Related words

• escamoter
• escamotage
• escamotable

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
5. ^ a b c d Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
7. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
9. ^ Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette